Adhesive tape applying device



Nov. 2, 1948. G. c. LUEBKEMAN 2,452,584

ADHESIVE TAPE APPLYING DEVICE I Filed July 26, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

M1 an, I I v Nov. 2, 1948. 5. c. LUEBKEMAN 4 ADHESIVE TAPE APPLYING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2,1 G. c. LUEBKEMAN 5 I ADHESIVE TAPE APPLYING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 INVENTOR. @eorge ULuebFEemam. Y B

Patented Nov. 2, 1948 ADHESIVE TAPE APPLYING DEVICE George C. Luebkeman, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor of one-half ville, Ill.

to J. David Luebkeman, Liberty- Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,407

18 Claims. (CL 216-22) The presentinvention relates to a tape applying device for tapes including adhesive tapes and has for an object the provision of a device that is easily heldin the hand and drawn over a surface to be taped for adhesively laying the tape and selectively severing the tape as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape dispenser with a cutter and a relatively shiftable presser member so related that, in practical uses of the device, the release of the presser, while moving it over a surface, serves to bring the cutter into action adjacent the last adhering point of the tape on said surface thus leaving the free severed end of the'tape in position for application by the presser member in a subsequent operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind that may be successfully used to apply pressure sensitive tape on soft loose fibered paper wrappings without damage to the paper and without danger of fouling the adhesive on the free end of the tape with fibers from said wrappings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is selectively usable as a fast operating tape dispensing and cutting device for removing pieces of tape from a roll of tape.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device that is light in weight, compact, easily refilled with a new roll of tape without disassembling the casing, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which very little of the adhesive is normally exposed, so that the device can be carried in the pocket, if desired, without danger of picking up appreciable amount of lint or adhesion of other objects.

These and other important objects are attained by the means described herein and exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention in position for the application of a strip of tape to a surface.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, operatively related to a surface in position for applying tape, part being broken away.

Fig. '7 is a fragmental cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 6, but, showing the device tilted to tape cutting position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevational view of 2 a modified form of the casing and cover structure, the former being partly broken away and the latter being shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of another modification of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line ill-l0 of Fig. 9, part being broken away.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the deviceof Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged bottom-plan view of the device of Fig. 9.

The application of adhesive tape suchas pressure sensitive cellulose tape and the like, in a manually operated device, has heretofore been proposed. The heretofore known and used devices present certain disadvantages amongst which are the inability of the user to fully manipulate the device with the hand which holds it, and the necessity for some final digital operation with the other hand to complete the laying of astrip of tape on a surface. The difficulty in applying.

a tape strip adhesive on a package wrapped in soft fiber paper, such as tissue paper, is that in severing the tape, the latter may be lifted and either the wrapping is torn or some of its fibers are carried away on the adhesive surface of the end of the tape which remains on the roll so that a part of the tape must be cut off and thrown away before a new application of tape can be successfully made.

It is a special object of the present invention to eliminate all of the numerous dimcultie's attending tape applying devices and to further provide a device that will lay, press down and cut off'any desired section of tape on practically any type of surface all with a single sweeping movement of the hand which holds the device.

.As will be hereinafter fully understood the devices embodying the mechanism of the invention may be used for applying adhesive tape and for dispensing any strip or cord material from a roll or spool and the term tape as generally used herein is intended to include such strip material whether adhesive coated or not, for example, cloth tape, cellulose tape, paper strip tape, string, cord, etc.

The device as exemplified in Figs. 1 to 7 comprises a hollow casing of relatively thin, formed sheet metal generally indicated by the reference numeral l0 and conveniently shaped to be comfortably grasped in the hand of the user and guided over a surface to which tape is to be applied fromthe tape roll supply housed within the casing. Casing it may be an integral structure of any suitable rigid material and is comprised of spaced apart parallel sidewalls ii and [2 which may be generally pear shaped and connected to gether at the edges by a transverse wall l3 which extends around the top edges of said walls, leaving approximately the lower halves of said side wallsopenbetween the free, spaced apart parallel wings of the side walls. A movable cover I serves to close the opening between the free edges of the sidewalls save for a short distance adjacent the forward orpointed end of the casing ill. One end of cover it may be pivoted to sidewalls H and 12, as by passing a rivet 15 through wall H and an upturned flange l1 struck from the edge of the cover, and by passing a pin l8 through the side wall 12 and through the salient end of bracket [9 which is formed on the opposite side of the cover in substantial parallelism with the flange 11. Pin l8 terminates a short distance from rivet I8 allowing for the passage of a tape from opening MB in cover It to opening 21.

Bracket H has a fixed shaft or stud projecting from the inner face thereof, while the other face of said bracket slides freely past the inner side face of the casing wall (2 when the cover 14 is moved about-its pivotal or hinged mounting. As can be readily seen in Fig. 6 the stud or shaft 28 is disposed at approximately the radial center of sidewalls H and I2 when the cover is closed and fastened by a suitable latch 21, the components of which are desirably formed integrally with the free end of the hinge cover and the matching end of transverse wall 33 respectively. A free turning spool 22 is slidably mounted for rotation on shaft 20. Interposed between 19 and the adjacent side of the spool is a suitable spring member 23 which serves as a friction drag to eliminate free rotation of the spool on the shaft and provide resistance to allow cutting of the tape. Member 23 is an inserted coil spring, as shown, passed loosely over shaft 28 before the spool is applied. When the spool 22 is compressed against the spring and the cover has been swung into fully opened position, it is a simple matter to force the ring core 23 of a roll of adhesive tape 25 over the spool. For the purpose of assuring a snug and relatively non-rotating fit of core 24 on spool 22, several pins or staples 26 are inserted into the circumferential surface of the wooden spool 22 and the head or top portions are left protruding so that they become embedded in the circumference of the pasteboard ring core 24 when the latter is forced onto the spool. When the spool is thus loaded with a roll of tape, the spool is held down against the bracket, com ressing the spring 23 while the bracket and the tape roll thereon are entered between walls and [2 as the cover I4 is closed. Thereafter spring 23 urges the face of the spool 22 against the inside face of wall H with sufficient pressure to eliminate uncontrolled turning of the spool on the shaft 28. In the present embodiment. an opening 21 at the forward lower end of casing 10 is bounded on its sides by the edges ,of walls H' and 12, at its forward end by the end I30 of trans verse wall I3. and at its rear end by the adjacent end of the hinged cover M. Within this opening 21 are provided a shiftable presser member, for example a roller 28. and a cutter 29. In the present embodiment the shiftable presser roller 28 is mounted for free rotation on a shaft 38 which is supported at its opposite ends on the free ends of arms 3| of a yoke member indicated generally at 32 and pivoted at its opposite end to the sidewalls l I and I2 interiorly of the casing on pivots 33. A perforated lug 34 has one end of a light tension spring 35 connected thereto, while the opposite end of said sprin is hooked into a perforate lug 38 which is struck from the end of transverse wall 13. The spring 35 urges yoke 32 about its pivotal mounting 33 in a direction which serves to move the presser roller 28 out of the casing to the positicn shown in Fig. 1 against pin l8 clamping tape 41 between said roller and said pin. Mounted transversely of opening 21, forwardly of presser roller 28, is a shoe 31 which also carries the cutter 29. Shoe 31 is U-shaped in cross-section and the cutter blade 29 is inserted between the legs thereof and. wedged in position by an inserted strip of compressible material 38 such as rubber or it may be otherwise fixed in position. At opposite ends of shoe 31 are integral upwardly and 'rearwardly extending ears 39 which are perforated to receive pivot pin 40 whereby the smoothing shoe 31 is rockably mounted. A spring 4! yieldably urges the shoe about its pivotal mounting in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, so that the edge of cutter 29 is normally raised above the normally lower presser roller 28. The rearward ends of cars 39 are turned outwardly and curved rearwardly upwardly to form smoothing fingers 42 which also enter notches 43 formed in the edges of walls I I and I2. When the shoe 31 and yoke 32 are in normal tape laying position as shown in Fig. 6, a salient corner or nose 44 of each ear 39 extends behind, and in the plane of the adjacent shoulder or nose 45 of alongside pin 18, acting as a tape catcher and thence around presser roller 28 with the adhesive face of the tape exposed and ready to be afllxed to a surface by the simple act of pressing the roller to such surface. It should be observed and it will be seen in Fig. 6 that generally when adhesive tape is pulled from a rotatably mounted roll of tape. the free tape assumes a radial position from the center of the roll to the point of ten sion. Thus when the device is in position for applying the tape strip 41, the free strip extends radially on a line between the center of shaft 20 and a tangent to the circumference of presser roller 28. With the free end of the tape adhesively bonded to a surface, the act of drawing the device along the surface will progressively pull the tape strip under tension free of the roll and affix it to the surface by the action of presser roller 28. During this operation the angle of the casing ID to the surface 36 maybe as shown in Fig. 6 or the rear end of the casing may be subsequ ntly lower to the extent of allowing the cover M to ride along the surface 46.

The user is at all times apprised of the approximate final limit of adhesive contact of the tape with the surface as he moves the device along the surface. In as much as the roller is in the vicinity of the ends of the fingers and thumb on the dvice when held in the hand, it is not necessary for the operator to look at the bottom of the device to determine the location of the roller. The issuing end of the tape under the roller is thus positioned and guided with the same ease and certainty as the user would have in placing the ends of the fingers and thumb on a given spot, and drawing them along a'given line.

When the user desires to cut on a strip of tape from the surface to which it has been applied, an

upward tilting of the rear or leading end of the device is effected during continued movement of the device. A sufilcient degree of tilting serves to iOGlS t e device on the surface tangent to the line of the roller until smoothing shoe 31 engages the surface and rocks on its pivotal mounting, and the roller carrying yoke 32 thereupon is released from its latched position as the angular corners 44 of shoe 3'! tilt downwardly out of abutting relation with the previously cooperating noses on the yoke.

In this tilting action duringcontinued linear motion of the device, substantially all of the slack in the tape 41 is taken up. It will be observed the tape 41 has, in this movement, turned on the operative edge of cutter 29 (see Fig. 7). In assuming this changed position the tension of the tape presses against the presser roller and allows it to rock the yoke on its pivotal mounting-against the resistance of spring 35, thus enabling the cutter to sever the tape during continued movement of the device with the shoe riding on surface 66. The smoothing fingers 42 are at this time pressed against the surface 46, holding down the wrapping paper, if there be any, and the bottom surface of shoe 3'! has a bearing 'on the top nontacky surface of the tape. The continuing movement of the device thus causes the edge of cutter 29 to sever the tape just beyond the point where the surface of roller 28 last pressed the tape to the surface. The unavoidable continuation of the manual movement of the device in exerting the additional force necessary to sever the tape causes the shoe to smooth over the adhering severed end. The entire operation may be repeated time after time without the necessity of adjusting the tape because, when the device is lifted from the surface, the free end of the tape is pushed to tangent relation with roller 28, which was automatically restored to the'latched position shown in Fig. 6 by action of spring 35, when the device was lifted and shoe 31 was raised free of contact with the surface. When yoke 32 thus assumes its normal position, the nose t5 cams the approximate center of spool 22 as the core is forced over the heads or ribs 26.

When it is desired to remove a selected length I of tape from the device without pressing it on to the surface with presser roller 28, the device is turned so that opening 21 is accessible, whereupon the free end of the tape is readily graspedbetween the thumb and forefinger for pulling the tape out to the desired length. The adjacent end of the cover is cut away to facilitate grasping the end of the tape. By swinging the hand holding the tape through an arc and causing the tape to pass around the shoe, and thus tilting it, the latching mechanism fit-55 is released and the edge of cutter 29 is pressed to the tape while presser roller 28 has yieldably retired to the interior of the casing. Suitable tension on the tape now causes the cutter to sever it.

The maximum diameter of a roll of tape which can be used in the'machine will be determined by the diameter of the approximately circular portion of the casing. Where the diameter of the core openings vary in different rolls of tape, the accommodation to the aperture in the core is easily made by providing another similar spool such as 22 in a diameter suitable for the tape at hand.

By initially adhering the end of the tape to a relatively flat or solid surface of any irregular object or package, it is likewise possible to hold the tape under tension without applying the roller to the object and thus seal circular or irregular packages, and to combine different shaped objects in a package by'alternately rolling the tape and then lifting the device to free the roller of irregularities and finally cut the tape by press-- ing the cutter shoe to the object. After a limited amount of experience with the device the user may become quite dextrous in taping various and sundry sizes and shapes of packages and he may very readily aflix fiat objects such as coins or rod-like objects such as pencils, etc. to a card or sheet of paper.

In the modified form shown partly open in Fig. 8 the construction of the device is somewhat simplified and when so constructed is more easily loaded with a new roll of tape. The casing 68 is more symmetrical as to the shape of parallel sidewalls 59 and and the transverse top wall Bl connects said sidewalls. The cover 52 (shown in longitudinl section) has on each side a perforated angularly turned lug 6,3 which lies parallel to the inside face of the adjacent sidewall to which it is connected by a hinge pin 54. This hinged mounting of cover 52, it will be noted, is reversed from that shown in Fig. 6. Adjacent the free end of cover 52 there is provided on each side an upturned flange 55 which slides over the exterior face of the casing sidewall and is provided with an open notch 56. The yoke 51 for presser roller 58 is pivoted on exteriorly headed pins 59 which seat in notches 55 when thecover is closed. Limited flexibility of the curved cover 52 affords snap latch action for the cover. The metal of cover 52 at its extreme free end is slightly out-turned to provide a stop for the roller and an integral tape catcher bar 590 in nearly tangent relation to the roller 58 when the cover is closed and latched. The metal of the cover is removed for a distance to provide a finger opening 60 between flanges 55 and just beyond tape catcher bar 590. The opening 60 affords easy digital access to the end of the tape in manually removing a strip of tape. Furthermore it enables easy insertion of the finger for slightly flexing the cover when unlatching it to open the casing in renewing the tape roll. The latter operation is facilitated because the free end of the tape is merely drawn out beyond the end of the cover when the roll 6! is mounted, in the manner previously described, on the bracket 62 which is integral with the cover 52. Thereafter the mere act of closing the cover to latched position moves the tape automatically to tangent relation with shown and described, for example they may be flexible or deformable members such as a brush,

a flexible strip or any other means that will serve to press a strip of tape to a surface that is either flat or otherwise.

It is to be noted that theseif-holding relation of the shoe 3'! and presser assembly 32 during operation afiords a highly emcient and fast act- 7 ing device, and. it is to be understood that the release of the presser assembly for shifting out of path of the tape may be accomplished manually with or without theaid of additional actuating elements.

The modified form of the device as shown in Figs. 9-12 inclusive embodies a cutter fixed on the casing and a relatively shiftable presser member that is releasable through a digitally operable member. The casing 83 has a pair of similar generally pear-shaped sidewalls 6 4 and 85 connected by a relatively straight transverse edge wall 66 on one end and folded and connected flanges on the sidewalls joined or overlapped to form a straight transverse wall 61. A disc 68 has an interrupted, cylindrical wall 69 extending transversely and partly around its perimeter. The disc 68 rides on the inside face of sidewall 65 and turns about a pivot pin l that passesthrough sidewalls 64 and 65 so that the disc may be moved about the axis of the pin to a position wherein the oppositeends of wall 88 substantiallyabut the top ends of easing walls 68 and 61 as shown in Fig. 11, thus completing the closure of the casing. Complementary shallow bosses H and 72 in disc 68 and wall 65 serve as an added frictional binding means to hold the disc against accidental displacement. Disc 88, has concentrically with its arcuate wall 89, a tape'roll holder 13, which in this embodiment is an integral tubular sleeve or flange.

To load the device with a roll of tape it the disc is moved about pivot ill by pushing on wall 69 closely adjacent the top end of wall 66 of the easing to release friction members 1 1-12 after which the movement is continued through approximately 180 leaving the disc fully exposed and accessible and almost entirely outside the space between casing sidewalls B4 and 65. The core 75 of the tape roll id is thus easily slipped over holder 73. The outer end MB of the tape is at this time pulled out and temporarily afilxed to projection 16 of the disc, which projection is an integral lug bent into a plane at right angles to the plane of the disc.

When the casing is nowclosed the end of the tape Mil on the projection 16 will project through opening 11 in transverse wall 65 where it is accessible to be lifted away from member 16 and passed edgewise through the center slot #8 of the interrupted tape catcher bar l919 and thus easily brought to the position shown in Figs.

and 11.

Pivoted on pin 86 that is secured at opposite ends in casing sidewalls 6d and 65 is a shiftable yoke 8| having sides 82 connected by a cross member 83 which isapertured at 86 to permit projection 76 on the disc to pass through it. A presser member 85, preferably, but not necessarily, a roller, is mounted on the free end of the yoke 8| which yoke is yieldably urged, as by a spring 86, to the position shown in Fig. 11 wherein the presser 85 holds the interposed tape strip 140 against the catcher bar 79-19 when the device is not in use. The tape is thus held with a sufficiently protruding end exposed and easily contacted by the presser for pressing the tape to a surface.

Outwardly projecting curved smoothing ears 859 are provided at each side of the case as in the previously described embodiments of the invention. A smoothing shoe 81 is formed integrally with the casing and a cutter 88 is fixed thereto. A spring set and digitally released lever 89 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 99 8 inside the casing. The lower end 9| of the lever is normally disposed in the path of transverse member 83 of the yoke, thereby positively limiting inward movement of the yoke and the presser member 85, and retaining the presser between the tape and the cutter. The upper end of lever 89 is suitably bent at 92 and passed through an aperture 93 in wall 61 to the outside of the casing where a convenient finger piece 84 is formed thereon. By pressing finger piece 94 toward the casing against the resistance of spring 95 the end 9| is moved out of the path of yoke 8| which will then be free to move inwardly about pivot 88 under the" influence of external pressure on the presser 85 and against the resistance of spring 88. This allows the tape under tension to hold back the presser and to engage the cutter for severing the tape substantially as described in connection with the other embodiments of the invention.

The device of Fig. 9 is designed for use in a relatively upright position when applying adhesive tape to a relatively horizontal surface. .The

' operation is to be understood to include both the removal of selected lengths of tape or the progressive application of tape to an object, such as a package.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that various arrangements may be made embody-' ing the bodily shiftable presser that is releasable by digitally actuated means or automatically releasable means actuated by selected tilting movement of the device, all in conjunction with selected fixed or moving cutters and/or smoothing shoes.

What is claimed is:

l. A tape applying device comprising a casing to house a roll of adhesive tape and provided with an opening, a shoe pivoted within the opening in the casing, a yoke shiftably mounted in the housing adjacent said opening, a presser member on the yoke and normally exposed by said opening and cooperating means on the yoke and shoe positively resisting movement of the presser member I into the casing, the shoe being movable about its pivotal mounting by pressure on one end thereof for releasing said cooperating means and permitting movement of the yoke whereby the press er is retired to the interior of the casing, and a cutter secured in the shoe and presenting its cutting edge toward the roller.

2. A tape applying device comprising a casing, a hingedly mounted bottom edge wall spaced at one end from the adjacent edge wall portion of the casing, a bracket on the said hinged bottom edge wall, a transverse shaft on the bracket, a spool on the shaft for receiving a roll of adhesive tape, a presser member operatively mounted in the opening adjacent said spaced end of said hinged wall, and a cutter operatively mounted in said opening alongside the presser member, said presser member and cutter being selectively operable on the issuing tape from the roll of tape.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a casing having parallel spaced sidewalls of generally pear-shaped outline, a transverse edge wall connecting the sidewalls throughout substantially half the perimeters thereof whereby the casing is provided with an open bottom, a cover hinged at its one end to the casing and terminating in spaced relation to the end of said transverse edge wall nearest the narrow end of the casing to define a permanent opening, an integral bracket on the cover and movable therewith to assume alternately a fully exposed position outside the casing and a completely housed position within the casing as the cover is opened and closed, a spool receiving shaft on the bracket, a spool rotatably supported on the shaft and peripherally adapted for frictional binding on the inner circumference of a tape roll core, a yoke member pivoted at one end within the casing near-the opening, a presser member carried by the free end of the yoke, means yieldably urging the yoke to position the presser member exteriorly of the opening, a cutter means pivoted in the opening and yieldably retracted to inoperative position, the cutter means and the yoke being arranged and related to preclude movement of the presser into the housing under the influence of external pressure on the presser member. I

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having an outlet opening in the bottom, means for rotatably supporting a roll of tape within the housing for selective removal of the tape strip through the outlet opening, a shoe pivotally supported in the outlet opening, a cutter element on one side of the shoe traversing the outlet opening, means yieldably urging the shoe about its pivotal mounting whereby the cutter is raised and the side of the shoe opposite the cutter is extended, a presser, a shiftable member supporting the presser adjacent to the opening, means yieldably urging the member to a position wherein the presser is extended through the outlet opening, and cooperating means on the shoe and the yoke whereby the shoe positively precludes movement of the member when the presser is subjected to external pressure, said shoe being movable about its pivotal mounting for shifting the cutter to an operative position and permitting the member and presser thereon to retire through the outlet opening.

5. In combination, a casing adapted to house a roll of adhesive tape and provided with a bot:- tom opening, a cover hingedly connected to its one end to the casing and serving to close the major portion of the bottom opening and provide an outlet opening in the bottom of the casing adjacent one end of the cover, a spool supporting bracket integral with the cover and moved to and from the interior of the casing as the cover is moved about its hinged mounting, a presser, a yoke pivoted at its one end within the housing and rotatably supporting said presser at its freeond. means yieldably urging the yoke about its pivotal mounting to a position wherein a portion of the surface of the presser is normally exposed throu h the outlet opening, said presser in its normally exposed position being disposed closely adjacent an end of the cover, a smoothing shoe pivoted in the outlet opening beyond the presser, means yieldably urging the shoe about its pivotal mounting in a direction toward the presser, the adjacent portions of said shoe and yoke being shouldered whereby the shoulder on the shoe normally abuts the shoulder of the yoke to positively preclude movement of the yoke under the influence of externally applied pressure on the presser, the shoe being rockably movable about its pivotal mounting under external pressure for moving the shoulder outwardly of the casing whereby the shoulders on the shoe and yoke are disengaged, and a cutter element on the shoe adjacent said shoulder and operatively positioned by the shoe as the yoke is released by the shoe.

6. In a device of the class described a casing having parallel, substantially pear-shaped side walls, a transverse wall connecting the side walls at the top, a cover hingedly mounted on the casing adjacent the end of the transverse'wall for controlling the opening,- an integral bracket on the cover. a tape roll receiving spool removably and rotatably supported on the bracket, the casing having an outlet opening between the free end of the cover and the adjacent end of the transverse wall, a shoe pivoted in the outlet opening adjacent the last mentioned end of the transverse wall, a movable presser member having its free end disposed in the opening intermediate the free end of the cover and said shoe, a cutter on said shoe adjacent the said presser, cooperating shoulders on the shoe and yoke whereby the shoe may preclude shifting of the yoke, yieldable means urging the cutter to the last mentioned position, yieldable means urging the yoke out of the outlet opening and a pair of smoothing fingers on the yoke extending forwardly andlaterally outwardly of the cutter.

7. A hand manipulated device for applying adhesive tape, the combination of a casing adapted to the grasp in the hand and provided adjacent one end of the bottom thereof with an outlet opening, the casing adapted interiorly for rotatably supporting a roll of adhesive tape to'be issued stripwise through the outlet opening, a shiftable presser yoke mounted within the casing and having its free end yieldably urged to the exterior of, the casing adjacent one end of the outlet opening and adapted to have the issuing tape strip pass between it and the said end of the outlet, opening whereby the issuing tape may be progressively applied and adhered to a surface as the deviceof the cutter is elevated to inoperative position behind the presser, and the edge f the shoe opposite the cutter is exposed and projected for selective engagement on the tape beyond the presser by tilting movement of the casing whereby the shoe is rocked on its pivotal mounting and the yoke is released therefrom permitting movement of the presser yoke to inoperative position within the casing, and lowering the cutter edge to the proximity of the surface for severing the tape strip on continued movement of the casing.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a closable casing adapted interiorly for rotatably supporting a roll of tape and having in its bottom, adjacent an end thereof an outlet opening, a cutter shoe disposed substantially within the opening and presenting a cutting edge transversely and to the inside of said opening, a

. shiftably mounted presser roller within the open-.

ing adjacent said edge of the cutter, means holding said presser roller in protruding relation with respect to the outlet opening whereby a tape strip from the roller may pass around the roller and v be adhesively pressed upon a surface by said roller as the device is drawn along a surface and means for releasing the roller to shifting movement under the tension of the tape whereby the roller is retired from the surface and the cutting edge means for releasably latching the opposite longitudinal end of the cover to the casing, a bracket member formed integrally, a shaft on the bracket, a tape receiving spool removably supported on said shaft and adapted to be moved to and from a relatively central position within the casing as the hinged cover is moved about its mounting, the tape strip from an inserted tape roll on the spool adapted to be passed beyond an end of the cover, a presser mounted adjacent said end of the cover and adapted to have the issuing tape passed about it for progressively adhering the tape and unrolling it as the device is drawn along a surface, and a cutter and smoothing shoe member mounted beyond the presser and selectively brought into operative cutting relation with the tape as the device is tilted to raise the presser from the surface to which the tape is applied.

10. In a device of the class described the combination of a casing adapted for holding a roll of tape and having an outlet for the issue of the tape strip from the roll, a cutter extending across the outlet, and a presser member shiftaoly mounted for movement through the outlet between said cutter and the issuing tape.

11. In a device of the class described the combination of means to rotatably support a roll of tape, means frictionally resisting free rotation of the tape roll whereby a tape strip may be removed under tension, a cutter having an edge against which a tape strip under tension may be pulled for severing the tape and a presser member shiftable to and from a position between the tape strip and the edge of the cutter.

12. In a device of the class described I casing means for supporting a roll of tape for removal oi a tape strip under tension, a shiftable tape presser, a tape catcher bar, means yieldably urging the presser toward said bar for holding an interposed tape, releasable means limiting inward movement of the presser under external force whereby the tape is freed of the tape catcher, and a cutter mounted behind the presser and rendered inoperative on the tape by said presser when the latter is under the active control of the releasable means.

13; In a tape dispenser the combination of a casing adapted to house a roll of tape, and having a peripheral wall extending partially about it, a peripherally disposed cover member hinged at one end to the casing for closing the casing save for an outlet opening, an integral tape roll holder on the cover, and alternately operative presser and cutter means mounted across said outlet opening for operation on an issuing tape strip.

14. In combination, a casing adapted to house a roll of tape and provided with a bottom opening, a cover hingedly connected to its one end to the casing and serving to close the major portion of the bottom opening and provide an outlet opening in the bottom of the casing adjacent one end of the cover, a spool supporting bracket integral with the cover and moved to and from'the interior of the casing as the cover is moved about its hinged mounting, a presser, a yoke pivoted at its one end within the housing and rotatably supporting said presser at its free end, means yieldably urging the yoke about its pivotal mounting to a position wherein a portion'of the surface of the presser is normally exposed through the outlet opening, said presser in its normally exposed position being disposed closely adjacent an end of the cover, a smoothing shoe pivoted in the outlet opening beyond the presser, means yieldably urging the shoe 12 about its pivotal mounting in a. direction toward the presser, the adj acent portions of said shoe and yoke being shouldered whereby the shoulder on the shoe normally abuts the shoulder of the yoke to positively preclude movement of the yoke under the influence of externally applied pressure on the presser, the shoe being rockably movable about its pivotal mounting under external pressure for moving the shoulder outwardly of the casing whereby the shoulders on the shoe and yoke are disengaged, and a cutter element on the shoe adiacent said shoulder and operatively positioned by the shoe as the yoke is released by the shoe.

15. A tape dispensing and applying device comprising a casing for housing a roll of tape and having an outlet opening for the passage of the tape, a tape catcher bar at one end of the opening, a cutter at the opposite end of said opening, a yieldably shiftable presser member normally projecting through the opening into the path of the cutter and for holding a tape strip against the catcher bar, and releasable means for positively opposing movement of the presser member out of the path of the cutter.

16. A tape dispensing and applying device comprising a casing for housing a roll of tape and having an outlet opening, a cutter in the opening, a yoke shiftably mounted in the casing, a presser member on the yoke and movable therewith to and from projecting relation with the interior of the casing through the outlet opening, means yieldably urging the yoke to dispose the presser to a position projecting from the casing and manually releasable means normally resisting movement of the yoke from the last mentioned position.

1'7. A tape dispensing and applying device comprising a pair of major sidewalls, defining between them an opening for insertion of a roll of tape, a tape holder, a pin passing tranversely through said sidewalls and said holder for pivotally supporting the holder for movement into the space between said sidewalls, a transverse wall member on said holder closing the said openin between the walls when the holder is wholly between said walls. the casing having on outlet opening, and a threading lug 0n the holder for carrying a free end of tape through the outlet opening as the holder is moved into the casing.

18. In tape dispensing and applying device, the combination of a casing having an outlet opening, a yoke shiftably mounted in the casing, a presser member on the end of the yoke, means yieldably urging the yoke to a position wherein the presser member projects through the open ing, a pivoted lever having an end thereof normally in the path of the yoke to positively preelude movement of the presser member by external pressure, means operable from the exterior of the casing for removing the end of the lever from the path of movement of the shiftable yoke, and a cutter in the opening and rendered accessible to the tape as the presser is shifted inwardly from the normally projecting position.

GEORGE C. LUEBKEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ,ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,368,262 Oftedahl Jan. 30, 1945 

